CTV Outside Broadcasts’ OB12 IP Truck goes live with Leader
CTV Outside Broadcast’s OB12 mobile production truck recently hit the road for coverage of the PGA European Tour, following an upgrade to fully modular SMPTE 2110 IP-based operation.
The new infrastructure is based on an SDNsquare Grid software-defined network which allows IP complexity to be controlled via intuitive graphic tools. Leader LV7600 and LV7300 rasterising test instruments, supplied by Leader channel partner Thameside.tv, are used through the OB 12 production areas to achieve accurate matching of incoming feeds.
Paul Francis, CTV’s chief technical officer, commented: “SDI infrastructures are inherently limited in terms of configurability. IP delivers the flexibility needed to overcome almost every SDI constraint. It also allows us to support our clients’ needs for the foreseeable future, not least in responding to the ongoing evolution of video formats. Leader is effectively CTV OB’s test and measurement partner since, for the last decade, we have only invested in Leader and Phabrix instruments. These overlap very effectively.”
Housed in a low-profile 19 inch 1U form-factor for easy rack or desk mounting, the LV7600 rasteriser provides all the facilities needed to seamlessly monitor UHD/HD/SD SDI as well as video over IP signals. The LV7600 also incorporates Leader’s intuitive Cinezone and Cinelite which are familiar to many content production staff.
Leader LV7300 is a 1U half rack width SDI rasteriser providing a wide range of engineering-related features including test pattern generation, closed-caption monitoring, CIE colour chart, high dynamic range measurement, focus assist, customisable screen layout, tally interface, 4K/UHD operation and 12G-SDI interfaces.
Kevin Salvidge, Leader’s European regional development manager, added: “CTV’s OB 12 upgrade demonstrates very clearly the practical advantages offered by IP, especially in an OB environment where crews need the highest possible operational flexibility to meet unforeseen challenges when they are working far from their base location. Capturing live events demands efficient and accurate signal monitoring at every critical point in the production chain. Our test instruments make the entire process fast and precise, including user-adjustable multiscreen configurations to allow easy side-by-side performance comparisons.”